12 American Towns with Stunning Spring Blossoms

From the nation’s capital to Texas and a lesser-known town in Georgia, cherry blossom trees burst into bloom all over America during spring each year. Many of the trees we see today were donated by Japan. If you want to see this incredible sight for yourself, we recommend heading to one of the following floral destinations.

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Washington D.C.

The nation’s capital is probably the most obvious place in America to see spring-blossoming cherry trees. Head to the Tidal Basin in March and April for a magnificent floral show, arriving early if you can to beat the crowds. But with over 3,000 cherry blossom trees scattered across the city, you can find them all over Washington D.C.

Brooklyn, New York

The Botanic Garden in Brooklyn has over 25 species of flowering cherry trees. The blossoms here have a cult following, with anticipation building among fans every year when the first buds appear. The garden makes a lovely escape from the city, with charming green spaces dotted with Japanese-style structures.

Nashville, Tennessee

Whether you prefer white cherry blossoms or pink, head to Nashville to see a splendid display of both. A planting program between the 2000s and 2010s resulted in over 1,000 cherry blossom trees spread across the city. See them by taking the Cherry Blossom Walk between the main square and Morgan Park, during Nashville’s yearly Cherry Blossom Festival.

Seattle, Washington

Japan donated over 100 cherry blossom trees to Seattle in the late 1930s. Now, you can see the quad at the University of Washington’s campus adorned with flowers every spring. A small number are Shirofugen or Yoshino trees, which are rarer variations.

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Boston, Massachusetts

The waterside Charles River Esplanade is cherry blossom central every spring in Boston. You can cycle or walk among the trees, which feature snowy white blooms. As the site stretches three miles along the river, there’s plenty of space for everyone to admire this natural phenomenon.

Huntington Beach, California

The Orange County Cherry Blossom Festival is held in April in Huntington Beach, just when the Californian weather is warming up. You can see cherry trees in bloom across the area in spring. The festival includes Japanese cuisine, and traditional and contemporary cultural practices, from ikebana flower ceremonies to cosplay.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Philadelphia shows its dedication to the cherry blossom cause by hosting the annual Shofusu Cherry Blossom Festival each spring. Sakura cherry trees, donated by Japan, are the specialty at Fairmont Park. This is the type of blossoming cherry tree most prized by the Japanese, for whom the cherry blossom season is a significant event.

Macon, Georgia

A whopping 300,000 Yoshino trees bloomed during spring in Macon, Georgia. It’s such an integral part of city life that the International Cherry Blossom Festival takes place each March. The trees were first cultivated in Macon in the 1970s.

Dallas, Texas

Head to Texas for the Dallas Blooms Festival in spring, and you can see over 100 cherry trees in bloom at the city’s arboretum. The celebrations also include other events, including foodie favorites like cooking demos and wine tastings. Live concerts and performances also form part of the Dallas Blooms Festival.

San Francisco, California

The City by the Bay also holds a festival to celebrate cherry blossom season, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. Not surprisingly, the city’s historic Japantown is at the heart of the action during mid-April and is one of only three Japantowns in the entire United States. The Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park is home to many cherry trees, as well as a teahouse, pagodas, and Japanese-style bridges.

St. Louis, Missouri

Again, some cherry trees in the botanic garden in St. Louis are the result of gifts from Japan. The Japanese Garden is the obvious place to see them, but you can also find some in the George Washington Carver Garden. The 100 or so species of tree growing here include the Mount Fuji cherry.

Portland, Oregon

Cherry blossom trees were planted at the Japanese American Historical Plaza in 1990 to commemorate Japanese Americans who served in the Second World War. Granite Stones also displays poetry by Japanese-American writers. But the highlight is undoubtedly the spectacular spring display of pale pink cherry blooms if you time your visit right.